178 THE WOODCOCK. 



THE WOODCOCK. (Eusticola minor,) 



The American Woodcock, like the snipe, appears again 

 to be a near representative of that of Europe, whose man- 

 ners and habits it almost entirely possesses, differing, how- 

 ever, materially in the temperature of the climates selected 

 for its residence, confining itself in the summer to the south 

 side of the St. Lawrence, breeding in all the intermediate 

 space as far as the limits of the Middle States, and retiring 

 in winter, for the most part, either to or beyond the 

 boundary of the Union. 



The European species, on the contrary, courting coolei 

 climates, winters in Grreat Britain and the north of Europe, 

 and retires as early as March, to breed in the Alps or in 

 the frigid wilds of Sweden, Norway, Russia, and penetratet 

 even to the icy shores of Greenland, and the heaths of Ice- 

 land. About the same period, early in March, the Ameri- 

 can Woodcock revisits Pennsylvania, and soon after the 

 New England or Eastern States. Indeed, so sedentary is 

 the species at times, that a few are known to winter in the 

 sheltered forests and open watery glades of Pennsylvania ; 

 at the same season also, many are seen in the vicinity of 

 Natchez, in Mississippi. 



According to cheir usual habits, they keep secluded in 

 the woods and thickets, till the approach of evening, when 

 they sally forth to seek out springs, paths, and broken soil, 

 in quest of worms and other insects, on which thej feod. 



